The cbc and partner Power Broadcasting have sold their two u.s.-based cable television channels – trio and Newsworld International – to USA Cable for a combined sum of $155 million – $75 million of which goes to the cbc, which is in the process of planning mass regional cuts on account of budget restraints.

Launched in 1994, the two channels, which over the last six years collectively garnered 11.7 million satellite and cable subscribers, were equally owned and managed by the cbc and Power Broadcasting, a subsidiary of Power Corporation of Canada.

‘The joint venture was originally looking for some investors, but instead of investing, someone wanted to buy the services,’ says cbc spokesperson Sheila Gervais who confirms that there is no connection between the two sales and the Corp.’s pending transformation plans for English television.

Where the one-time money will go hasn’t yet been decided, she says.

As part of the deal, cbc has signed a long-term, program-supply agreement with USA Cable, a division of USA Networks, to continue as the content provider for nwi, one of the only 24-hour news networks dedicated to global news in the u.s.

‘Our original intention was brand extension into the u.s. and we retain that with the name and by continuing to be the content provider,’ says Gervais.

trio is a general entertainment service featuring the most successful contemporary dramas, docs and films from Canada, the u.k. and Australia. It has also been one of the largest exporters of Canadian tv programs to the u.s. with more than 3,000 hours of content.

‘USA Cable was attracted to these services because of the originality of the channel formats and their operational efficiency, and the sale of these networks provides a significant cash infusion on a one-time basis to the cbc,’ says cbc president and ceo Robert Rabinovitch.

Patrick Vien will continue in his role as president of the two channels.